ANNE DUCROS - Urban Tribe (2007) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Anne Ducros' second Dreyfus CD is a mixed bag. After an impressive first effort for the label, this session opens with two dreadful numbers, a bland pop interpretation of the Beatles' "Sexy Sadie" (not one of the typical Beatles' pieces chosen by jazz musicians), and an annoying original by her pianist Oliver Hutman, "When I Know, If I Know," which sounds as if it was written during the heyday of disco. Fortunately, Ducros regains focus on the sound of jazz for the remaining tracks, scatting up a storm in "Up Jumped Spring," delivering a moving interpretation of the melancholy "I Fall in Love Too Easily," and offering a playful "Who Can I Turn To." Ducros does not take a lot of liberties with Otis Redding's soulful "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay," though her decision to sing it as a duet with bassist Essiet Essiet keeps it from getting dull. Saxophonist Ada Rovatti is added on several tracks, providing a rich backdrop for the singer in a breezy setting of "Over the Rainbow." Drummer Bruce Cox provides excellent support throughout this disc. by Ken Dryden
Tracklist:
1     Sexy Sadie    3:52
John Lennon / Paul McCartney
2     When I Know, If I Know    3:33
Olivier Hutman
3     Up Jumped Spring    5:21
Freddie Hubbard / Abbey Lincoln
4     I Fall in Love Too Easily    5:31
Sammy Cahn / Jule Styne
5     You and the Night and the Music    4:28
Howard Dietz / Arthur Schwartz
 6     Easy to Love    3:22 
Cole Porter
7     Stairway to the Stars    5:31
Matty Malneck / Mitchell Parish
8     Who Can I Turn To    5:01
Leslie Bricusse / Anthony Newley
9     Sitting on the Dock of the Bay    4:32
Otis Redding
10     Over the Rainbow    4:00
Harold Arlen / E.Y. "Yip" Harburg
11     Green Dolphin Street    7:51
Bronislaw Kaper / Ned Washington
Credits:
 Bruce Cox     Bells, Drums, Handclapping, Tambourine, Vocals (Background)
Anne Ducros     Arranger, Artistic Director, Handclapping, Musical Direction, Producer, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Essiet Essiet     Double Bass, Handclapping, Vocals (Background)
Olivier Hutman     Composer, Handclapping, Piano, Vocals (Background)
Ada Rovatti     Handclapping, Sax (Soprano), Sax (Tenor), Vocals (Background)   

  

ANNE DUCROS - Piano, Piano [2006] APE (image+.cue), lossless

There is little information about European jazz singer Anne Ducros within the liner notes to Piano, Piano, but she clearly endeared herself to each of the four guest pianists with whom she worked on her CD. She soars in the lush setting of "Never Let Me Go," where she packs an emotional punch, though her tripping over a few words slightly handicaps her interpretation of Billie Holiday's "God Bless the Child." One of Europe's greatest jazz pianists, Enrico Pieranunzi, joins her for the powerful rendition of "You Go to My Head" and a graceful take of "Moon and Sand." She came to the United States in order to work with Chick Corea, singing "Les Feuilles Mortes" (Autumn Leaves) in its original language in a terrific duet and adding some humorous horn-like scatting reminiscent of Ella Fitzgerald on-stage. Both her lyrical "My Foolish Heart" and explosive "Body and Soul" are just as effective. Another veteran European pianist, René Urtreger, is paired with Ducros for a gently loping duet of "I Thought About You" and anchoring the rhythm section for another Ella-like scat exhibition in the swinging "Just in Time." Benoît de Mesnay, who doubles on piano and Fender Rhodes in "Four" (where she once again scats up a storm) and joins her for the swinging interpretation of "Naima," is evidently her regular accompanist. All in all, this is a very enjoyable effort.  by Ken Dryden  

Tracklist:
1. Four (Davis)
2. God Bless The Child (Holiday/Herzog Jr.)
3. You Go To My Head (Gillespie/Coots)
4. Les Feuilles Mortes (Prevert/Kosma)
5. Never Let Me Go (Evans Jr./Livingstone)
6. Gnossienne N°1 (Satie)
7. I Thought Abut You (Mercer/Heusen)
8. My Foolish Heart (Washington/Young)
9. Moon And Sand (Wilder/Palitz/Engvich)
10. Just In Time (Comden/Green/Styne)
11. Body And Soul (Sour/Heyman/Hollingworth)
12. Naima (Coltrane)
Credits 
Chick Corea, Piano
Benoit de Mesmay, Piano
Anne Ducros,, Vocals
Bob Franceschini, Saxophone
Karl Jannuska, Drums
Sal La Rocca, Double Bass
Enrico Pieranunzi, Piano
Manhu Roche, Drums
Jacky Terrasson, Piano
René Urtreger, Piano

ANNE DUCROS - Piano, Piano

 [2006] Dreyfus / APE (image+.cue), lossless

O Púbis da Rosa

ANNE DUCROS - Ella... My Dear [2010]

Tracklist
1 It Don't Mean A Thing 2:50
2 Laura 5:58
3 Save Your Love For Me 3:50
4 Stardust 5:04
5 Lullaby Of Birdland 3:14
6 Ella... My Dear 2:44
7 Come Rain Come Shine 5:46
8 Bewitched 5:36
9 Fascinating Gershwin 4:21
10 Dindi 4:18
Credits
Bass – Essiet Okon Essiet
Drums – Bruce Cox
Lead Vocals – Anne Ducros
Piano – Jean-Pierre Como
Trumpet – Ivan Jullien

ANNE DUCROS - Ella... My Dear
[2010] Plus Loin Music / CBR320 / scans

O Púbis da Rosa